In Georgian Colonial houses, various kinds of household staff were usually employed to manage the households of the wealthy and influential. These staff members were responsible for maintaining the house, serving its inhabitants, and taking care of their needs. Some of the common household staff in Georgian Colonial houses included:
1. Housekeeper: The housekeeper was responsible for the overall management of the household, including organizing and supervising other staff members, managing budgets, and ensuring the smooth running of the household.
2. Cook: The cook was in charge of meal planning, grocery shopping, and preparing meals for the household. In larger households, there may have been multiple cooks or assistant cooks to handle the workload.
3. Maids: There were different types of maids, such as chambermaids or housemaids, who were responsible for general housekeeping tasks, including cleaning, making beds, doing laundry, and organizing the living spaces.
4. Butler: The butler was in charge of the dining room and pantry. Their responsibilities included serving meals, managing the wine cellar, setting up tableware, and supervising other male servants.
5. Footmen: Footmen were usually male servants who dressed in elaborate livery and performed various duties such as doorkeeping, running errands, carrying messages, and assisting at formal gatherings.
6. Nurse: In households with young children or infants, a nursemaid or nanny would be employed to take care of the children's needs, including feeding, bathing, dressing, and overseeing their general wellbeing.
7. Gardener: Wealthy households often had an employed gardener responsible for maintaining the gardens, landscaping, and growing vegetables or fruits for the household. The gardener might also look after any livestock present.
8. Coachman: In households with carriages, a coachman would be employed to look after the horses, drive the carriage, and maintain the equipment.
9. Scullery maids: Scullery maids were responsible for washing dishes, pots, and pans, as well as performing other cleaning tasks in the kitchen.
10. Laundry maids: In larger households, dedicated laundry maids would wash and iron clothes and linens.
These are just a few examples of the household staff commonly employed in Georgian Colonial houses. The exact composition of the staff varied based on the size and wealth of the household.
Publication date: